Family of child who starved to death sue council

Birmingham City Council ‘should have intervened earlier’, says Khyra Ishaq’s family

07/01/2013 04:41 PM

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ABUSED: Khyra Ishaq

RELATIVES OF seven-year-old Khyra Ishaq are suing Birmingham City Council for failing to prevent her death in 2008.

Khyra was severely malnourished when she died at her home in Handsworth.

Her five siblings, who cannot be named for legal reasons, have filed a suit against the Council through their lawyer as they believe that the Council could have intervened sooner to prevent Khyra’s death.

The children’s mother Angela and her partner Junaid Abuhamza were jailed in March 2010 after admitting to Khyra’s death as well as five counts of child cruelty.

The family’s solicitor, Tony Hall, said: "There were various opportunities where the situation in which Khyra and her family found themselves came to the notice of the Council, and could and should in our view, have intervened at an earlier stage.

“The children were subjected to abuse and malnutrition over some time, it was horrific. From our understanding, there is still suffering and they need to get their lives back on track."

Birmingham City Council confirmed that they received a letter regarding the claim but declined to comment.